The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-12-08

fective action Both Of the grea, political parties
now represented In the government. have, by
repeated and authoritative declarations, con-
demned the condition ofOur laws, which permit
the collection from the people Of unnecessary
revenue, aud have 10 the most solemn manner
promised its correction and neither. as citizens
Tor par.isaus, are Our countrymen In q mood TO
condone the deliberate violation OF these
pledges.
Our progress toward a wise conclusion will
not be improved by dwelling on the theories OF
protection and free trade This savors too much
of bandying epitheis. 1t is condition which
cOnfronts u.s. not theory. The relief from this
condition may prove slight reduction OF the
advantages which we award our home pFoduc-
tons, but the entire withdrawal Of such advan-
tages should not be contemplated. The question
OF flee trade is absolutely irrelevant; and the
persistent claim made in certain quarters that all
efforts to relieve the people from unjust and un-
necessary Ia xation are schemes OF so-called free
traders is mischievous and far removed from
any consideration for the public good.
The simple and plain duty which we owe the
people is TO reduce taxation to the necessary ex-
peuses of an economical operation of the govern
ment and 10 restore 10 the business of the coun-
try the money which We hold in the treasury
through the perversion Of governmental powers.
These things can and should be done with safety
to all our Industries, without danger to the OPP
portunity of remuuerative labor, which our
workingmen need, and with benefit to them and
all our people by cheapening their means Of
subsistence and increasing the measure of their
comforts.
THE PARAMOUNT QUESTION.
The Constitution provides that the President
"shall from time 10 time give to The Congress in
formation Of the state of the Union" 1t has
been the custom of the Executive, in compliance
with this provision, to annually exhibit TO the
Congress, at the opening OF its session, the gen
eral condition Of the country, and to detail with
some particularly, the operations of the differ
ent executive departments 1t would be espe-
cially agreeable to follow this course at the
present time, and to call attention to the valua-
BILE accomplishments of these departments dur
ing the last fiscal year but am SO much i'm
pressed with the paramount importance OF the
eubject to which this communication has thus
far been devoted, that shall forego the addition
of any other topic and only urge upon your i'm
mediate consideration the state OF the Unios y
as shown in the present condition OF our treasury,
and our general fiscal situation. upon which
every element Of our safety and prosperity de-
ponds.
THE STATE OF THE REPUBLIC
The reports Of the heads of the departments,
which will be submitted, contain full and ex-
plict Information touching the transaction oil
the business intrusted to them, and such recon-
mendatons relating to legislation in the public
interest as they deem advisable. / ask for these
| reports and Recommendations the deliberate ex-
animation and action of the legislative branch
| of the government.
There are other subjects not embraced in the
departmental reports demanding legislative co n.
| s,deraton and which shall be glad TO submit
| Some of Them however, have been earnestly
| presented in previous messages, and ss to them
beg leave 10 repeat prior recommendations.
| A SUPPLEMENTARY MESSAGE PROBABLE.
AS the law makes no provision for any report
| from the Department of State, brief history Of
| the transactions of that important department
| together with other matters which il may here
| after be deemed essential 10 commend to the at
tention of Congress, may furnish the occasion
| for future communication.
GROVER CLEVELAND.